Where? 
The Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming is home to both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. From mountain peaks, meadows and alpine streams, the natural beauty of the reservation land is unsurpassed. Recreation on and near the reservation includes amazing fishing, camping, climbing, white-water rafting and hunting. Despite the beauty of the land, residents of this community face many social and economic challenges including poverty, unemployment and drug abuse. Your group's ministry can bring hope to those who are struggling. From painting and weatherizing homes to reaching out to the local children and elderly residents, your service will have significant impact in the Wind River Valley.
 
Why?
Among many other reasons you will:

• Grow deeper connections with  people of different generations, cultures, and experiences by spending a week of service together.
• Grow a heart for missions in the lives of each of your family members.
• Grow a desire to continue serving in our own community when you return home with new eyes for service.
• Grow a deeper and stronger faith by doing ministry, not only talking about it.

These are only some of the reasons to participate, but certainly there are more. It will also bring our congregation together in a way that hasn't happened before.
 
What will we do?
The trip is designed with people of all ages in mind.  A typical day will begin with breakfast, packing lunch for the day, and morning devotions.  Service projects will begin mid-morning and might include activities such as home renovation, visiting senior citizens, serving at a soup kitchen, sorting clothes at a thrift store, and/or leading Kids Club (similar to VBS).  After showers and a group-prepared supper, you'll venture out for an evening activity which might include a cultural event, fun activity, and/or some sight seeing.  The evening will conclude with some worship and sharing of the day's mission adventures.

Who can go? 
Entire families are encouraged from grandchildren to grandparents.  Working together as a family in service to Christ, could surely be a family vacation unlike any other and one none of you will soon forget.

What is the cost? 
The cost for the week of service is $198/person.  You'll need to factor in additional travel expenses, mainly gas.  For those who wish to, we'll be staying overnight in churches along the way there and back.
 
How do I sign up? 
There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, September 30th, at 11:30am to find out more.  Sign up will begin that day.  A $50 non-refundable deposit will be required per person at sign up.

How will we get there? 
Families will be responsible to provide their own transportation.  We will carpool and travel together with those who wish to.

Additional Information

The Wind River Indian Reservation encompasses more than 2.2 million acres in Wyoming. The reservation and surrounding areas have an estimated population of 23,250 residents, which include both Native Americans and Whites.

It sits on the eastern side of Wyoming's Wind River Mountains, southeast of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

The Wind River Reservation was formed in a unique treaty in 1863. As a result of Chief Washakie's service to the U.S. Army, he was the only Indian chief to have a choice in the location and size of a reservation. The U.S. government reduced the size of Wind River in subsequent treaties, but it remains the third largest reservation in the United States.

The Wind River Reservation is also famous as the resting place for Sacajawea - the young woman who helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition. Today, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes share land on Wind River. It was originally home just to the Shoshone, who migrated onto the Plains from Nevada in the 1600s. The Northern Arapaho migrated out of Minnesota unto the Plains at the same time. When the government confiscated land from the Arapaho for gold mining, the two traditional enemies were forced onto one reservation in 1878. The enemy tribes agreed to this arrangement with the understanding that the Arapaho would soon be moved.

The Shoshone and Arapaho currently still share the reservation. Though the two groups work together for American Indian rights, they still retain their own language, culture and bloodline. Unfortunately, finding work on the reservation is a significant challenge. Unemployment for the Northern Arapaho tribe runs as high as 85 percent, and up to 70 percent for the Eastern Shoshone. Drug abuse is another concern, with drug possession on the reservation rising 163 percent between 2003 and 2006. While many people struggle to make a decent living on the reservation, they are resilient and kind.

Wind River Reservation Statistics

• Population of 23,237
• The reservation covers 2.2 million acres.
• The reservation is shared by two tribes. 3,500 Eastern Shoshone and 7,000 Northern Arapaho.
• 7.5% unemployment rate
• 21% live below the poverty level.
• 28% of children live below the poverty level.
• 8.2% of the homes on the reservation are heated by wood or coal alone (no gas or electric heat).

Ministry on the Wind River Reservation
We will focus on three primary areas of ministry: children, home improvement and elderly.

Our work with children is a wonderful hands-on afternoon program led by your youth, known as Kids Club.  Kids Club offers high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help kids learn about Jesus. Also during the week, your group will have the opportunity to do home improvement. Oftentimes families struggle to provide the bare necessities of life. Maintaining a home takes a back seat when it is difficult to put food on the table. Your group's willingness to refresh a worn out exterior of a house with a new coat of paint brings real hope and an opportunity to share the love of Christ.

Participants will do two days of house painting, and two days of ministry with children and elderly. 

Evening activities during a YouthWorks week are designed to give participants insight into the lives of local residents and the culture of the area. We try to arrange for free evening activities, but from time to time, an additional cost may be required for an activity. Please plan to bring an additional $10 per person to cover any extra costs. We will confirm the details closer to your trip.

A list of evening/cultural activities we have done in the past include:

• Spend time in Riverton and get to know the local
  town
• Visit Sacajawea's grave and hear a cultural speaker
• Participate in a Pow Wow
• Hike and cookout at Sinks Canyon State Park

These are examples of what your group might partake in during your mission week. Evening activities are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided.

Additional Information and Links
For more information on what there is to do in Wyoming and surrounding areas before or after your trip, visit:  www.wyomingtourism.org.

Other Historical/Educational Resources
www.northernarapaho.com
www.easternshoshone.net